Trolley-conductor clamp



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ATTRNEY Patented June l, 19226?.

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NILSA. `rlI-IILLBERG, 0F VILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AWiElSTINGr- -I-IOUSE ELECTRIC 6c MAN'UFACTURNG COMPANY, A CORPORATION yOF PENNSYL- VANIA.

TROLLEY-CONDUCTOR CLAMP.

,Application led April 25, 1921.- Serial No. 464,251.

My inventionrelates to clamping devices and particularly to clamping devices for supporting` electrical conductors.

One object of my invention is to provide a device ofthe above indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical in manufacture and effective in operation. n

VAnother object of my invention is to provide a conductor clamp that shall be constructed principally of pressed metal, thereby eliminating-the difliculties attending the construction of cast-metal members and reducing the amount of machine work thereon.

'In practicing my invention7 l provide a pair of outwardly biased pressed-metal jaws having outwardly and downwardly sloping surfaces. A pressed-metal-hood member has depending portions engaging the sloping portions of the jaws and is mounted for relatively vertical movement between the jaws and a support for the jaws to move the latter to clamping position.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a plan view of a clamp embodying my invention. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of the clamp in clamping position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the clamp in releasing position, and

Fig. 5 is a central cross-sectional view of a hood member embodied in my invention and as shaped during a preliminary stage of construction.

A pair of jaw members l, preferably constructed of pressed metal, such as steel, have lower gripping edges 2 for holding engagement with a trolley conductor 3, outwardly and downwardly sloping side portions 4 that, preferably, extend throughout the length of the jaws, and complementary recessed upper portions 5 forming a pocket forv the reception of a nut 6.

An initially {iat-sheet overhanging member 7 receives a preliminary pressing operation thereon to effect-.the rect-angular hood shape thereof, illustrated in Fig. 5, after which it is placed over the jaw members and pressed into substantial conformity with the latter. In its final assembled form, the -overhanging member 7 has a portion 8 enclosing the portions 5 of the jaw members 1,

depending side 'portions 9 for sliding engagement with the sloping portions of the jaw members and end walls 10.

While the portion 8 of the hood member 7 is interloclred with the jaws l, above and below the portions 5 thereof, provision is made for vertical relative movement between the hood 7 and the jaws l. Y

When the clamp is supported on a hanger rod or insulator stud 11, by inserting the latter into the nut 6, a previously mounted nut 12 is moved downwardly on the stud ll Vinto engagement with a transverse top wall la of the hood 7 through which the stud extends. Further lowering of the nut l2 causes the depending side portions 9 of the hood 7 to slide downwardly on the sloping side portions l of the jaws l to move the latter inwardly to gripping engagement with the conductor 3, as best illustrated in Fig. '3.

l/Vhen the nut l2 is raised on the stud 11, outward bias of the side portions 4 of the jaws l will raise or permit the ready release of the hood 7 from its clamping position over the jaws l, which will separate laterally to release the conductor 3, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Being'free of cast metal and machined parts, except for the coi-operating standard nuts, the clamp is very economical to manufacture and is, further, very durable, simple in construction and effective in operation. Except for the nut l2, the device is a self contained unit embodying no small or loose parts liable to loss and difficult of manipulation.

- While I have shown and 4described a particular lform of my invention, changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A conductor clamp comprising relatively movable jaws and a vertically movable member operablefrom above the jaws and having an inwardly depending portion engaging the outer surface of one of the jaws for moving the jaws relatively.

2. A conductor clamp comprising relatively movable jaws having downwardly and outwardly sloping outer surfaces and a vertically movable member operable from above the' jaws and having inwardly depending side portions engaging said outer surfaces.

3. A conductor clamp comprising relatively movable jaws having downwardly andl outwardly sloping outer surfaces extending throughout the length thereof and a Vertically movable member having depending side portions engaging said outer surfaces and end Vportions joining said side portions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 10 subscribed my name this 18th day :of April, 1921.

NILs A. WAHLBERG. i 

